22nd House District Primary/Special Election

Pennsylvania's 22nd House District has been without a representative since mid-January when former Rep. Chelsa Wagner resigned from her seat to focus on being the newly elected controller of Allegheny County.

That will change on April 24, though, when voters will not only decide who will represent the major political parties that hope to fill the 22nd District seat after November's general election but also who will represent that district until then.

Since Wagner's House of Representatives term is not yet complete, and because the 22nd District's move to the eastern part of the state due to population shifts has at least been temporarily put on hold by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, someone must fill the remainder of Wagner's term, starting on April 24.

Enter Democrat Martin Michael Schmotzer—a Whitehall Borough resident, former Allegheny County deputy clerk of courts and longtime Baldwin-Whitehall School Board member—and Republican Chris Cratsley, of Pittsburgh's Overbrook neighborhood.

While also contending for their parties' nominations come November for the 22nd District seat, Schmotzer and Cratsley have also been nominated by their parties' state political leaders to contend on April 24 in a special election to fill the rest of Wagner's term.

In other words, Schmotzer's and Cratsley's names appearing more than once on the April 24 ballot is not a mistake.

But even if Schmotzer beats out Cratsley for Wagner's seat on April 24, he could end up not having a chance to defend that seat in November. Two other Democratic candidates—Shawn Lunny, of Pittsburgh's Brookline neighborhood, and Erin Molchany, of the Mount Washington neighborhood—will challenge Schmotzer in April for their party's appearance on the November general election ballot.

UPDATE: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided on April 13 that Shawn Lunny's name is to be removed from the ballot of April 24's Democratic primary election for Pennsylvania's 22nd House District seat. Story here.

Cratsley, meanwhile, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

The entirety of the 22nd District includes at least parts of Overbrook, Brookline, Mount Washington, other city neighborhoods Beechview, Duquesne Heights, Manchester, Sheraden and Esplen and the suburbs Whitehall, Baldwin Township and Castle Shannon Borough.

36th House District Primary

Rep. Harry A. Readshaw, a Democrat, of Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood, is running unopposed in the 36th District. The 36th includes parts of Whitehall and parts of Baldwin Borough (mostly north Baldwin).

38th House District Primary

Rep. William C. Kortz II, a Democrat, of Dravosburg Borough, is running unopposed in the 38th District. The 38th includes south Baldwin Borough.

Which District Am I In?

Click here for an easy way to find out.

How Do I Register to Vote? (Deadline for Primary Is March 26.)

Click here to register.

Only registered Democrats can vote for either Schmotzer, Lunny or Molchany in the 22nd District primary, and only registered Republicans can vote for Cratsley in that primary.

On the same token, only registered Democrats can vote for Readshaw in the 36th District primary, and only registered Democrats can vote for Kortz in the 38th District primary.

However, ALL VOTERS can vote for either Schmotzer OR Cratsley in the special April 24 election to fill Wagner's vacant seat.

 ---

Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

Sign up for the daily Baldwin-Whitehall newsletter.